Pirnless shuttle for weaving looms



Sept. 8, 1936. R DEWAS 2,053,657

PIRNLESS SHUTTLE FOR WEAVING LOOMS Filed Oct. 51, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet lM KE/Viola E4 YMOND E5 was Sept. 8, 1936. R, DEWAS 2,053, 57

PIRNLESS SHUTTLE FOR WEAVING LOOMS Filed Oct'. 31, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet2* /4 Tree/vs 4s Patented Sept. 8, 1936 mamas snU'r'rLE i on wlavm LOOMSRaymond Dewas, Amiens, Franco application October 31, 1933, Serial No.695,996 In France November 12, 1932 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pimless shuttles of the kinddescribed in my prior applications for patents filed respectively on May31, 1933, Ser. No. 673,672 and June 17, 1933, Ser.

No. 676,251, saidimprovements enabling the shuttle, which has beenimproved, to be used either to one side or the other by the point of theshuttle;

In looms where pirnless shuttles are employed 20 cations, and in whichthe shed is of much reduced dimensions, these slack threads are aserious inconvenience, because the pirnless shuttle or weft inserter hasno point but, on the contrary, has in its place a slot which separatesthe two branches of the rider which forms the shuttle, said slot beingintended to receive, on entering the shed, the weft thread to be passedthrough, with the result that the slack warp threads enter the slot, and30 are either cut or broken.

The present invention has for its object to eliminate this disadvantageand consists;-

(a) In shaping the end of this kind of shuttle which is formed like arider, in such a way that tie itself during its travel through theshed;it being understood that in the case of shuttles which pass through theshed in either direction, the two extremities of the said shuttles "willbe 40 shaped alike.

(b) In presenting the weft thread which is stretched across the entranceto the shed so as to be caught and carried along by the shuttle, in sucha way that it is not pushed to one side or the other of the shuttle, asare the slack warp threads. a

This shaping of the ends of pirnless shuttles of the kind described inthe above mentioned patent applications, in combination with the arerangement of the weft thread at the entrance to the shed, together withother minor, improvements which assist to ensure perfect functioning,constitute the purpose of the present invention which is describedhereinafter and illustrated 55 diagrammatically in the attached drawingswhich the kind described in my above mentioned applithe slack threadsare pushed aside by the shutshow four different forms of application,although obviously other forms of application of the invention also arepossible within the same combination.

With reference to the first form-of application: 5

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the improved pirnless shuttlesbefore its entry into the shed; at the moment when the weft thread isbeing caught.

Figure 2 is an end view of the above.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the same shuttle as illustrated in Figure 1but viewed in the opposite direction.

Figure 4 is aside view. of the same shuttle as illustrated in Figure 1,showing theside which faces the fell of the cloth.

Figure fi is a view exhibiting the opposite side of the shuttle. to thatillustrated in Figure 3, so

as to show the side which faces the reed.

Figure 6 is an end view of the opposite extremity of the shuttleaccording to Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a front view of the elastic fork which guides the weft,showing the siderwhich faces the shuttle.

With reference to the second form of applica- 25,

tion;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the improved pirnless shuttle,before its entry into the shed, similar to Figure 1.

. Figure 9 is an end view of the above.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the shuttle illustrated in Figure 8 butviewed in the opposite direction. t

Figure 11 is aside view of the shuttle illustrated in Figure 8, showingthe side which faces the fell of the cloth.

Figure 12 is a view exhibiting the opposite side of the shuttle to thatillustrated in Figure 10, so

.as to show the side whichfaces the reed.

With reference to the third form of application;

. Figure 13 is a fragmentary plan view of the improved pirnless shuttle,similar to Figure 8.

Figure 14is an end view of the above.

Figure 15 is a plan view of the shuttle shown in Figure 13 but viewed inthe opposite direction.

Figure 16 is a side view of the shuttle illustrated inFigure 13, showingthe side which faces the reed.

Figure 17 is a view exhibiting the opposite side of the shuttle to thatillustrated in Figure 15, so as to'show the side which faces the fell ofthe cloth.

' Figure 18 is an end view of the shuttle, similar to Figure 9, showinga variation in the guiding device for the weft thread.

Figure 19 is a plan view of the above.

As regards the first form of application (Figures 1 to 7) the shuttle orrider consists of a body I, preferably made of metal and having atrapezoidal cross section, of which 2 and 3 are the sides arrangedtocome into contact with the sheets of warp threads which form the shed,4 being the narrow side which faces the fell of the cloth 6, and 5 thewider side which faces the reed I. a

One of the ends of this shuttle is slotted at 8 for a certain distancein the direction of the width, so as to divide the body I into twoprongs or branches 9 and III. A sharp blade II which is used for thecutting of the weft thread, is preferably removably attached to thebottom of the slot 8.

The wider side 5 is provided with a large groove I 2 in which isarranged the clamp for holding the weft thread, constituted by twostraight and flexible blades I3, arranged parallel to one another and inelastic contact the one with the other in the middle of the groove I 2,the ends of these blades being bent towards the walls of the said groovein which they are fixed in such a way as to ensure the secure holding ofthe clamp which they form, the elastic contact between the blades beingstrengthened by means of elastic auxiliary blades I3 fixed in the sameway, this clamp enabling the weft thread to be received and held betweenits branches, as well as the passage of the release blade, which is notshown in the drawings and which, when the shuttle completes its passageafter traversing the shed, by penetrating into and passing between thetwo branches I3, releases the weft thread held by the said blades, thisarrangement being similar both in the case of shuttles which travel onlyin one direction as well as shuttles with alternating direction oftravel.

It must be noted that this elastic clamp I3 is distinctly longer thanthe catching of the weft would require, in order to release 'the saidweft withouttension so as to avoid the twisting incldental to thewithdrawal from the shed by the action of the elasticity of the thread.

Thus constituted, as applied to the shuttles described in my prior abovementioned applications, the shape of one or both ends of such shuttles,intended to push aside the warp threads loose in the shed, ischaracterized according to the present invention in that the end-of oneof the branches of the rider or shuttle, for example the branch 9, isshaped like a beak I 4, the end being slightly overhung, as shown at I5,so as to project beyond the plane of the slot 8, which thus is masked,the outer surface 3' of this beak having a trimmed, rounded or bevelledshape uniting with and merging into the flat. surface 3 of the body I ofthe shuttle. whilst the end of the other branch of the rider or shuttle.for example I 9, simply having its outer surface 2 similarly trimmed,rounded or bevelled so as to unite with and merge into the flat sufacc 2of the body I of the shuttle.

It will be clear that, when the ends of the shutties are thus shaped,the slack threads, belonging either to the sheet i6 or to the sheet I 7of the divided warp, coming into contact, during the navel of theshuttle through the shed, either with the beak I4 having the roundedsurface 3 and belonging to the branch 9, or with the rounded surface 2of the branch I II, will slide along these ound d surfaces and thus willbe deflected and thrown over one or other side of the shuttle, theseslack threads not being able to enter the slot I on account of theobstacle formed by the over-' hanging end I5 of the beak I4.Consequently, due to the described shape of the end of the shuttle, thegroove I2 leading to the slot 8 is procteeted from loose warp threads inthe shed, provided that these threads extend at right angles to thedirection of movement of the shuttle; these threads meet the overhangingend of the shuttle beak and slide along the side surface of the shuttlewithout penetrating into the groove I2 and without being caught by theclamp I3.

In accordance with the present invention an arrangement is providedwhich allows the weft thread, which is stretched out at the entrance tothe shed and across it, to be caught by the shuttles in spite of theshape of the ends thereof which has the tendency to push aside any warpthreads met during the passage, this arrangement consists in that a partof the weft thread I8 is stretched obliquely with respect to the shuttlebetween a first point formed by the fell of the cloth 6 or a point 6"located in the shed in advance of the point 6', and a second point whichis constituted in the present instance by the eyelet I9 situated at acertain distance from the edge in front of the shed, as shown in Figs.1, 3, 8, 10, 13 and 15. By this arrangement, the shuttle comes intocontact with this stretched portion of the weft thread I8 beforeentering the shed, this contact taking place, as aresult of the obliqueposition of the'weft thread thus stretched and of the form of theshuttle, at a point marked a situated on the side of the ridge of theopposite slope 2" of the bevelled part 2', which slope is also bevelled.The thread I8 is then guided into the slot 8 without coming into contactwith the point I5 of the beak l4 of the branch 9, 'near which the saidthread passes.

As it is preferable that the point from which the weft starts should besituated in front of the fell of the cloth 6', at a point 6", it can beconstituted, for example, by the bottom of a notch 20 arranged at theend of a resilient blade 2| aflixed to a rigid part of the frame of theloom, the first threads of the warp or of the edges of the shed, passthrough this notch. Consequently during the crossing of the warps thethreads cross each other within the notch 20. The edges 20' of the notch20" are curved towards the fell of the cloth 6, in order to prevent thesaid edge threads from opening too widely, so that the end of the cutshoot, which is to be inserted, does not tend to get away, the saidresilient blade 2| being.

pushed back at each stroke of the batten against the fell-of the clothand thereupon returning to its front position by its own resiliency assoon as the batten has moved back. Due to this arrangement the thread isstretched more obliquely when the point 6" is used than when the point6' is used. Furthermore, the point 6" does not change its position whilethe point 6' may move slightly v due to variations in the position ofthe selvedge and the action of the batten.

With regard to the second form of the application (Figures 8 to 12), itconforms with the-purpose of the present invention in that it includes,like the first form, the combination of the shape of the ends of theshuttle with the particular arrangement of the weft stretched across theentrance to the shed.

The characteristic feature consists in that the groove I2 is arrangedobliquely in relation to the middle plane of the shuttle and in such away that the branch 9 has, on the side 5 which faces the reed, a heightwhich is equal approximately to one half of the total height of thisside, with the result that the point I! of the beak l4 prolongs the saidbranch 8, and without any overhanging of said point, into a similarrelative position to that of the beak of the first form of application,the oblique position of the slot l2 making it possible to do without theinterior bevelling 2 of the end of the branch Id.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the groove I2 isparallel to the middle plane of theshuttle, so that in order to enablethe obliquely stretched thread'to penetrate into the shuttle between theprongs 9 and III, the end of the prong l mustv beprovided with an innersurface 2". In the modification shown in Fig. 9 both the groove l2 andthe slot 8 are oblique with respect to the middle plane of the shuttle,so that if the thread is stretched obliquely it can penetrate intothe'groove I2 although overhanging loose threads in the shed will not beable to get into the groove l2.

As regards the third form of application (Figures 13 to 17), it alsoconforms with the purpose of the present invention, in that it includes,like the two others, the combination of theshape of the end of theshuttle with the particular arrangement of the stretched weft at theentrance to the shed.

The characteristic consists'in that the end of the branch 9 which formsthe beak I4 is not only provided with a bevelled outer part 3', butalso' with a bevelling 3" .on the opposite side whilst the end of theother branch is provided with the outer bevelling 2' and the innerbevelling 2".

With regard to Figures 18 and 19 which are somewhat similar to those inthe second form of application shown in Figures 8 to 12,these illustratean arrangement which makes it possible to bring the tension point of theweft in front of the fell of the cloth, no longer in the shed, butoutside the latter, this arrangement consisting of a finger 22 adaptedto be reciprocated in such manner that it presses on the weft before thearrival of the shuttle, and thus moves the weft to a position in whichit is stretched approximately parallel to the axis of the inclinedgroove l2, the weft, when caught by the shuttle, slipping off thisfinger 22, at the moment when said shuttle is inserted into the shed; inthis case it is no longer necessary to incline so much the weft threadl8.

When the shuttle does not include a cutting blade, a cutting blade isadded to the finger 22,

said blade being arranged so as to come between the weft thread and theselvedge.

It is clear that, without going outsidethe limits of the presentinvention, changes, improvements and additions can'be made and thatequivalent means could also be used.

For example, with reference to the first form of application (Figures 1to 7) and the third form of application (Figures 13 to 1'7) thegroovei2could be arranged obliquely in relation to the middle plane ofthe shuttle, as in the second form of application. The same could bedone with the slot 8 and the point 6".

in the same way, with reference to the second form of application(Figures 8 to 12) the groove H can be separated to a greater extent, sothat it ends on the surface 2, in close proximity to the side 5, theinclination of this groove being increased, or not, inasmuch as it ispossible to give this groove a slight bend, soas to find room for itmore easily, the releasing blade having to be given two grooves, it isclear that the ends also of these shuttles can be shaped according tothe idea of the present invention.

With regard to the shape of the ends of shuttles, it is also understoodthat it may be the result of the combination between themselves of theforms specified in the difierent forms of application described.

Finally, when shuttles constructed according to any of the forms ofapplication hereabove described or to others are employed, in circularlooms or in certain other looms, it is clear that they will consist of abody I, the shape of which will no longer be rectilinear butcurvilinear.

What I claim is:

l. A weft shot inserter device, comprising a body, a slot extendinglongitudinally from the point thereof, forming two prongs, said prongshaving flat outer surfaces, and a beak forming the end of one of saidprongs, said beak having an overhanging point to cover said slot and anouter surface merging with the adjacent outer surface of the prong, theadjacent end of the other prong having an outer surface merging with theadjacent outer surface of the second-mentioned prong and an innersurface for guiding a weft thread into said slot.

2. In combination with a loom comprising a reed, a pirnless shotinserter member comprising an angular body having the shape of atwopronged rider, a slot extending obliquely to the central longitudinalplane of said rider being formed between the two prongs, one of saidprongs being longer than the other, the side facing said reed of saidlonger prong having a height substantially equal to one half of thetotal height of said side.

3. A pirnless weft shot inserter member, comprising a body, a slotextending longitudinally from the point thereof, forming two prongs,said serter member, havinga longitudinal slot extending from the pointthereof and means forming a part of said member for preventing loosewarp threads from entering said slot; a loom comprising a shed, aflexible blade having .a notch. at one of its ends; and an eyelet, aweft thread being stretched obliquely across the entrance to the shedbetween said notch and said eyelet to enable said weft thread topenetrate between the two prongs 'and'be carried off by the shuttle.

5. In combination with a pirnless'weft shot inserter member having alongitudinal slot extending from the point thereof and means forming apart of said member for preventing loose warp threads from entering saidslot; a loom comprising a shed, a flexible blade having a notch at oneof its ends, the edges of the notch being bent backwards towards thefell of the cloth, the angles of the threads at the edge of the fell ofthe cloth being limited by said edges, the edge threads pass-'- ingbetween the edges of the notch, the shape of said edges determining thedegree of limitation; and an eyelet, a weft thread being stretchedobliquely across the entrance to the shed between said notch and saideyelet to enable said weft thread to penetrate between the two prongsand be carried off by the shuttle.

6. In a loom for weaving fabrics comprising a shed, a pirnless insertermember for the weft shots, a longitudinal slot in said inserter memberextending from the point thereof, means in said slot for retainingtherein a weft shot until penetration through said shed, meansassociated with said inserter member for preventing loosewarp threads insaid shed from entering said slot, and flexible means intermediate saidweft shot inserter member and the fell of the fabric to be woven forguiding the weft thread and for reducing the angle between theconverging warp threads of said shcd adjacent to the selvedge edgewhereby the unravelling of the weft shot from the fell is prevented.

7. The combination with a loom comprising a shed and a weft'threadextending obliquely to the entrance thereof and in a plane substantiallyparallel to the plane of said shed; of a pirnless weft shot insertermember, a longitudinal slot in said inserter member extending from thepoint I thereof for receiving said obliquely extending weft thread,means in said slot for retaining therein said weft thread, means forcutting said weft thread upon penetration of said shed whereby a weftshot is produced, and means associated with said weft shot insertermember for preventing loose warp threads in said shed from entering saidlongitudinal slot and flexible means intermediate said weft shotinserter member and the fell of the fabric to be woven for guiding saidweft thread and for reducing the angle between the converging warpthreads in said shed adjacent the selvedge thereof whereby unravellingof said weft shot is prevented.

8. The combination with a loom for weaving fabrics comprising a shed anda weft thread extending obliquely to the entrance of said'shed and inaplane substantially parallel to the plane of said shed; of a weft shotinserter member, a longitudinal slot in said member for receiving saidobliquely extending weft thread forming two prongs, clamping means insaid slot for retaining said weft thread in said slot, means for cuttingsaid weft thread adjacent said slot upon penetration through said shedwhereby a weft shot is produced, one of said prongs forming a beak ex-'-tending over the entrance to said slot, whereby loose warp threads insaid shed are prevented from entering said slot.

9. The combination with a loom for weaving fabrics comprising a shed anda weft thread extending obliquely to the entrance of said shed and in aplane substantially parallel to the plane of said shed; of a weft shotinserter member, a longitudinal slot in said member for receiving saidobliquely extending weft thread forming two prongs, clamping means insaid slot for retaining said weft thread in said slot, means for cuttingsaid weft thread adjacent said slot upon penetration through said shedwhereby a weft shot is produced, one of said prongs forming a beakextending over the entrance to said slot, whereby loose warp threads insaid shed are prevented from entering said slot and means for preventingthe unravelling of said weft shot from said fell, a flexible bladeintermediate said inserter member and the fell of the fabric to be wovenand adjacent the selvedge edge thereof, a notch at one end of saidblade, adapted to engage the selvedge strands of said shed, means insaid notch for reducing the angle between the converging warp threads insaid shed, and an eyelet for guiding said obliquely extending weftthread.

'10. In a loom, means for supporting sheets of warp threads to form ashed, a shuttle supported for travel through the shed and comprising abody provided at an end thereof with a longitudinal slot to formcomplementary prongs one of which is longer than the other, said prongsbeing'shaped to provide cam-like surfaces for clefront of the shedwhereby the shuttle comes into contact with said stretched part of theweft thread and receives the same in said slot before the shuttle entersthe shed.

RAYMOND DEWAS.

